How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical Assistants in Chicago, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Illinois.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chicago · Naperville · Elgin metro area
A typical Medical Assistant in Chicago, Illinois earns $22.73 per hour, or $47,270 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,939 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,600, and the top 10% of earners make over $57,360.
That pay is 3% above the Illinois figure of $46,090 and 3% above the national figure of $45,690. Chicago ranks 1st of 9 metro areas in Illinois for Medical Assistant pay. About 15,640 Medical Assistants work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
Medical Assistant pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.73 an hour, or $47,270 a year.
- That is 3% above the Illinois figure, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,600; the top 10% make over $57,360.
- Typical pay rose +50% from 2015 to 2025, against +50% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $17.60 an hour to more than $27.58 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,600$17.60 an hour | $36,400$17.50 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $40,690$19.56 an hour | $38,970$18.74 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $47,270$22.73 an hour | $46,090$22.16 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $50,260$24.16 an hour | $49,460$23.78 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $57,360$27.58 an hour | $56,590$27.21 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical Assistants in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Medical Assistant pay in Chicago was $31,590 a year. By 2025 it had reached $47,270, a change of +50%, compared with +50% for Illinois over the same years.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Chicago pays Medical Assistants the most of any metro area in Illinois. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bloomington at $38,070.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $47,270 | $22.73 | this city | 15,640 |
| 2 | Springfield | $45,140 | $21.70 | -5% | 790 |
| 3 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $44,700 | $21.49 | -5% | 840 |
| 4 | Peoria | $44,680 | $21.48 | -5% | 710 |
| 5 | Rockford | $44,390 | $21.34 | -6% | 690 |
| 6 | Decatur | $43,060 | $20.70 | -9% | 130 |
| 7 | Champaign metro incl. Urbana | $39,130 | $18.81 | -17% | 460 |
| 8 | Kankakee | $38,440 | $18.48 | -19% | 210 |
| 9 | Bloomington | $38,070 | $18.30 | -19% | 230 |
Every metro area in Illinois with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $46,090
Is Chicago a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistant pay in Chicago sits close to the national figure: $47,270 a year, 3% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 3.5 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.2. That makes Medical Assistants a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Chicago earns $47,270 a year, or $22.73 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,600 and the top 10% earn over $57,360.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Chicago is $22.73. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.60, and the top 10% earn over $27.58 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Chicago?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Chicago typically offer around $17.60 an hour, or $36,600 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 3% above the Illinois figure of $46,090 a year, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.